nt was but the precursor of something still more unpleasant.

But such natures as his were quite foreign to her. She merely
instinctively disliked him.

"What do you mean?" she asked unsuspiciously.

Beasley was serious again, and wore an air of deprecation when he
answered her.

"Oh!" he exclaimed, "'tain't nuthin'. Y' see folks are always most
ready to gas around. It's 'bout them two boys. They're hot about 'em.
Y' see Pete was a mighty popular feller, an' Ike had good friends. Y'
see they were always good spenders--an' most folks like good
spenders. But ther'--'tain't nuthin' that needs tellin' you. Guess
it'll only make a dandy gal like you feel mean."

The man's purpose must have been evident to anybody less simple than
Joan. As it was she jumped at the bait so skilfully held out.

"But you must tell me," she said, remembering Mrs. Ransford's remarks.
"I insist on knowing if it is anything concerning me."

Beasley's air was perfect. His eyes were as frankly regretful as he
could make them.

"Wal," he said, "it certainly does concern you--but I'd rather not say
it."

"Go on."

Joan's face was coldly haughty.

"I wouldn't take it too mean," said Beasley warningly. "I sure
wouldn't. You see folks say a heap o' things that is trash. They guess
it's your doin' 'bout them boys. They reckon you played 'em one ag'in
t'other for their wads, an' both o' them ag'in--Buck. Y' see--mind I'm
jest tellin' you cos you asked--they guess you ast 'em both to supper
that evenin'. Pete said he was ast, an' Ike let on the same. You ast
'em both for the fun of the racket. An' you had Buck around to watch
the fun. Yes, they're pretty hot. An' you can't blame 'em, believin'
as they do. One of 'em--I forget who it rightly was--he called you the
camp Jonah. Said just as long as you wer' around ther'd be trouble. He
was all for askin' you to clear right out. He said more than that, but
I don't guess you need to know it all."

"But I do need to know it all. I need to know all they said, and--who
said it."

Joan's eyes were blazing. Beasley made no attempt to conceal his
satisfaction, and went on at once--

"Course I can't give you names. But the facts I don't guess I'm likely
to forget--they made me so riled. They said that farm of yours was
just a blind. It--it was--well, you'd come along here for all you
could get--an' that----"

Joan cut him short.

"That's enough," she cried. "You needn't tell me any more. I--I
under